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Model Railroad Supplies For Beginners – What You Need To Get Started With Model Trains

Nov
14

Model Railroad Supplies For Beginners – What You Need To Get Started With Model Trains

Model Railroad Supplies For Beginners – What You Need To Get Started With Model Trains


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Home Page > Hobbies > Model Railroad Supplies For Beginners – What You Need To Get Started With Model Trains

Model Railroad Supplies For Beginners – What You Need To Get Started With Model Trains

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Model Railroad Supplies For Beginners – What You Need To Get Started With Model Trains

By: Henry Michael

About the Author

Henry Michael is a model train enthusiast who enjoys sharing his knowledge and experience with others to help them get the most out of this exciting hobby.  For more information on  model railroad supplies, visit my website at http://www.modeltrainenthusiast.com/ and learn how easy it is for you to get involved with model railroading.  It will help you to avoid mistakes that most beginners make.  If you are more experienced, it will give you a different perspective on things you maybe doing or would like to do.

(ArticlesBase SC #1854337)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/Model Railroad Supplies For Beginners – What You Need To Get Started With Model Trains





Starting any new hobby always brings a sense of anticipation and Model Railroading is no exception.  Once they have been to a train show, or have simply seen a model train layout displayed somewhere, many people become excited by the possibility of operating their own train setup.  This excitement often leads to a sense of being overwhelmed and sometimes sticker shock, after visiting a hobby store and looking at the huge array of model railroad supplies available and the wide range of prices. 

Well, it doesn’t have to be overwhelming and it doesn’t take a fortune to get started with model trains.  The simplest layouts consist of a small oval track and an locomotive with a few cars.  It can be set up on the floor, a simple table, or even an old door or piece of plywood on two saw horses!  Often when you talk to experienced hobbyists, they talk about the need for a strong custom bench and lots of room to set up your layout, but don’t let that stop you from getting started.  You can graduate to a more complex and expensive setup as you get more involved in railroading.  As a beginner, you may not even know in what areas you are most interested.  Do you enjoy the different locomotives and rolling stock which comprise your trains, or do you prefer building the scenery and making the miniatures look realistic?  Maybe you prefer wiring the electrical control parts of the track or configuring the software to work to your liking.  One of the best things about model railroading is the wide range of skills that you can learn and put to use.  There is something for almost everyone to enjoy. 

The other nice thing about this hobby is that you can do as much or as little of it yourself as you like.  Some of the most popular model railroad supplies are kits for just about every aspect from trains to tables to scenery, to electrical wiring and software.  These range from simple all inclusive starter kits to kits for individual parts designed for the more advanced modeler.  You can buy train and scenery kits separately or kits that include both.  The kits themselves can be either completely finished and ready to set up and run, or do it yourself kits that require more complex construction, painting and assembly.  Once again, it is easy to get started with a simpler kit and upgrade to something more complex as your needs dictate, and budget allows.  These kits also vary in price and complexity depending on the scale or gauge with which you decide work. 

Starter train kits can be purchased for as little as or but most will want one of the kits in the 0 range.  These train kits can be specific to an industry or a type of train, steam or diesel for example.  Starter kits typically come with a 4′ by 3′ oval track, a locomotive, several cars and a simple transformer and controller. 

Scenery kits, building kits and layout kits vary widely depending on the components and how much do it yourself work you want to do.  A building kit for a simple small town with 15 buildings can be purchase for about 0.  Layout kits, which provide the base for your layout including materials for hills, valleys and tunnels start at about 0.  Scenery kits which contain materials for trees, grass, rocks, etc. start at about .  Each of these can be purchased individually as the need arises. 

Software for model trains starts at as little as for simulation software, and layout controllers at about 0 but you don’t have to have either of these for your first train setup. 

Any of these model railroad supplies can be purchased at your local hobby store.  Hobby shops are usually very helpful because they want you to keep coming back .  They can provide a hands-on experience and the chance to talk to others who know what it is like when you are just getting started.  They can often help you avoid common beginner’s mistakes that they have already made.  These items can also be found at local model railroad shows and conventions. 

You may also find these items locally advertised or at yard or garage sales or auctions.  All model railroaders were once beginners and you can often find bargains on trains from the hobbyist who is ready to trade-up.  Be sure to do your research before buying from these sources so that you know the value of what is being offered.

As you can see, there are many sources of model railroad supplies for beginners on any budget.  One of the great things about this hobby is that you can get involved as deeply, or as little as you like.  You can begin with a simple kit and advance in whatever direction your interest takes you.  Some hobbyists never make their own scenery, preferring to enjoy simply running their trains, while others get involved in every detail down to making their own coal and logs and plants!  So get started.  You’re going to love this!

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(ArticlesBase SC #1854337)

Henry Michael -
About the Author:

Henry Michael is a model train enthusiast who enjoys sharing his knowledge and experience with others to help them get the most out of this exciting hobby.  For more information on  model railroad supplies, visit my website at http://www.modeltrainenthusiast.com/ and learn how easy it is for you to get involved with model railroading.  It will help you to avoid mistakes that most beginners make.  If you are more experienced, it will give you a different perspective on things you maybe doing or would like to do.

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model railroad, model railroad supplies, railroad supplies, model trains, model railroading, model railway supplies

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Mercedes-Benz C-Class C63 model

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Mercedes-Benz C-Class C63 model

From the viewpoint of a logical shopper, this particular too, fails to add up, as the standard-issue C63 is definitely a hooligan’s hooligan, a auto from which no sane individual would walk away wishing for bigger stones. But as with Daltrey’s Who, the C63 is usually a fantastically overachieving beast of rather pedestrian roots, and when it comes down to it, adding the Dev Pack guarantees to become like dropping off Pete Townshend inside brand-new lobby of a mid-’60s Holiday Inn. With a set of Marshall stacks. Drunk and fresh off a painful breakup. In other words, it could possibly not make a whole lot of sense or be a especially wise financial choice, but it really is also a brave call with the glorious possible for unbridled mayhem.

Roger Daltrey has gone on record as saying that inside Who’s early days, they were paid ₤75 to ₤150 a show, yet they would bust-up close to ₤250-300 worth of gear every time they took for the stage. That’s bad math. In the same way, Mercedes-Benz asks individuals willing to pay ,350 for its least costly AMG model – the C63 AMG – to pony up a additional ,950 for the new-for-2010 P31 AMG Growth Package that adds 30 horsepower, uprated brakes as well as a passel of miscellaneous hi-po gear.

So what all goes into the Dev Pack? Very well, in order to bring the C63′s 6.2-liter corral up to a stable-busting 481 horsepower at six,800 rpm, AMG has fitted lightweight engine internals including new pistons, con-rods along with a diverse crankshaft. When lorded more than by an updated ECU, the combination liberates an additional 30 ponies in the V8, though 443 pound-feet of torque resolutely sits at 5,000 rpm. What’s more, Benz’s boffins have let out the car’s top speed to 174 mph, just ’cause they are swell guys. Thoughtfully, AMG has also fitted unique two-piece rotors fitted with red calipers and firmer pads to bring the C63′s even speedier party to a halt. Oddly, the spidery-spoked alloys from the UK’s incredibly similar Performance Package deal Plus model haven’t made it across The Pond, however the fluted 18-inch anthracite five-stars of the common C63 have constantly been favorites, so we’re not bothered.

Further features that will distinguish Advancement Package deal vehicles from lesser C63s consist of a carbon fiber lip spoiler, titanium-colored intake runners plus a suitably bitchin’ leather and Alcantara flat-bottomed steering wheel. A limited-slip differential lock is also obtainable for a steep ,000, but you could possibly as very well go whole-hog, correct?

Let’s cut to the chase. We’ve heard a lot of a reader comment how they never use paddle-shifters in an automatic transmission vehicle so equipped. In the event you count on your own in that number, you may well as effectively stop reading right here and move on, since you are merely going to miss the point in the C63. The two cold metal flaps on either side of the steering wheel are the quickest way towards the Merc’s soul. Oh, the seven-cog Speedshift gearbox sluices involving gears imperceptibly and efficiently (if a bit slowly) when left to its personal devices, but if you’re interested in baring the C63′s considerable jagged teeth, you are heading to need to toggle the little Comfort/Sport/Manual button by the gearlever more than to ‘M.’ While you are at it, you might as nicely give yourself a longer leash with all the three-stage stability control process by thumbing an additional button among the vents. This can be a routine owners will undoubtedly turn out to be intimately common, as it transforms the C63 from a incredibly fast sport sedan into a full-on 7,200-rpm Townshend/Keith Moon face-melter.

It is really really tough to overstate this next point: the cooking C63 previously sounds brutally sensational, but if something, the Dev Pack’s lighter internals allow the 6.2-liter V8 to jump and bark with even greater finesse. Amongst the automated throttle blips on downshifts and the multitude of fierce pops and burbles on overrun, the C63 sounds like Orville Redenbacher is being processed by way of The Devil’s Very own popcorn machine.

Our panhandler friend might have mistakenly suspected the C63 had a revised exhaust, but his appreciation has been spot-on. In this vehicle, you will uncover on your own in third gear on the freeway – previously breaking the posted limit – just to hear the engine in its upper reaches. You may drive while using windows open when it is 95 degrees in the city just to hear the spent gasses caroming off of nearby buildings. You are going to risk confettiing your license every day, or at the really least, your gas card (EPA estimates: 12 miles per gallon city, 19 highway)!!!

Needless to say, a large motor is all properly and excellent, but without the suspension, steering and brakes to match, the C63 would be a one-trick pony. But thanks for the firm yet reasonable front strut/rear five-link suspension and Continental ContiSportContact tires that stick like toffee to new bridgework, obtaining the power down isn’t a difficulty – it’s the softheaded lug behind the wheel which is bound to become the weak hyperlink in this program.

Thankfully, the C63 is remarkably forgiving (especially with the ESP set to its mid-level intervention threshold) and there’s genuine feel through the speed-sensitive rack to maintain even probably the most ham-fisted of drivers informed. It really is not as telepathic as a Lotus, but the steering is highly accurate and incredibly communicative. We had a non-Dev Pack C63 out at Lime Rock last year as part of AMG’s Driving Academy, and it was hands-down one of the most entertaining on-track automobile we drove that day (and that included more powerful models like the E63, SL63 and SLK55).!.! Some may possibly argue that a BMW M3 is really a a lot more exacting tool – especially for trackday work – and they’re probably correct. But the two Teutons are closer than you may well assume, and we reckon the C63′s vastly superior 443 pound-feet of torque and its accompanying hellfire soundtrack will present far more entertainment for most drivers on a daily basis – even together with the automated. In reality, the closer foil for the C63 in character is the admittedly wonderful Cadillac CTS-V.

Negatives? Hmmm.!. if pressed we’d say the firm ride can get a little busy on pockmarked streets, but that is to be expected in a sports sedan of this caliber. Additional troubling is that its regular C-Class dashboard is drab and rather downmarket in appearance, and – as with seemingly each other German automaker – really few creature comforts are regular equipment. (Our tester’s MSRP ballooned all the approach to ,105 thanks to leather, premium and multimedia packages, along with 5 for delivery and ,100 in gas-guzzler charges)..! Anything else? Not everyone will locate the vice-grip chairs to their liking, but even with our added paunch, we adored their copious support. That said, a universal source of frustration was provided by the seat bolster air bladder controls. They aren’t on the door by the rest of your articulation switchgear along with the awkward reacharound means they’re only found by individuals familiar with receiving the cold embrace of a policeman’s handcuffs. Then again, in light of the C63′s propensity to foment illegal speeds, the controls’ placement must surely be a cleverly calculated move by Benz engineers to familiarize drivers with ‘assuming the position.’ These guys consider of everything.

Adding the AMG Development Package to the definitely stupendous C63 is definitely gluttonous, but in our estimation, it is really the best sort of vulgarity. Did Townshend seriously require to crack up all individuals guitars and hotel rooms to make such an incredible racket? Did Moon really have to rely so heavily on cymbal crashes for drama or paint his Rolls-Royce lilac with a brush? Did Daltrey actually have to swing his microphones on stage or punch up his mates inside the dressing room after the show? Of course not. However the rock world remains a richer, additional vibrant and memorable place because they did exactly that. So it’s with ordering the AMG Dev Pack. Ticking the P31 box on your C63′s order sheet could possibly make for some lousy arithmetic, but it also promises to add a welcome bit of danger and bombast to an definitely legendary performer.

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Rickenbacker Bass Guitars – 4003 Model

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In the short lifetime of electric string instruments, very few basses have earned the accolade necessary to genuinely call themselves “classics.” Even less can claim the title of industry standard – but no one can dispute the fact that the Rickenbacker 4000 Series deserves these titles. The piano string-like ring, punch, and sustain brought the bass player out of the shadows and into the spotlight.

Unique style and unmistakable tone!
Rickenbacker’s original solid-body electric bass was first introduced in the spring of 1957, bringing its own unique style to the Rock and Roll explosion of the early 60′s and 70′s. In the hands of bass-masters including Paul McCartney, Chris Squire, and Geddy Lee, 4000-series basses forged a solid reputation for distinct tone and comfortable playability. The latest Rickenbacker 4003 bass stays true to its roots, offering these same characteristics to a whole new generation of players.

Neck-thru construction
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Balanced sound for diverse musical styles
Some basses offer deep tone at the low end of the spectrum, but the higher notes tend to be a bit thin. The 4003′s combination bridge/tailpiece assembly reflects more string energy over the pickups for a consistent, balanced sound across the entire fretboard. You get piano-like clarity at the top with plenty of growl down below. This is why Rickenbacker basses are played by such a diverse group of musicians. Lemmy from Motorhead, Andre 3000 from Outkast, Mike Mills from REM, and Chris Ross from Wolfmother are all able to get the tone they need from the same instrument. With so many genres represented, you’re sure to dial in a sound that suits your style.

Super-slim body
Instead of the chunky, bass-heavy designs used by many manufacturers, a slim, streamlined body gives the 4003 increased treble response and added punch. Both body and neck are made of maple for a full, bright tone with a nice, crisp bite. The rosewood fretboard adds mellow warmth, so notes in the upper register don’t sound harsh or shrill. Any style, any technique, comes through with expressive, dynamic clarity.

All about the neck
The thin, fast neck has become a favorite among progressive-rockers and bass-shredders alike. Check out some of Cliff Burton’s earliest work with Metallica, Chris Squier’s jaw-dropping solos from the 70′s, or any of Geddy Lee’s blistering Rickenbacker riffs. You can play the slickest runs from low to high and back again without getting bogged down like you would on a fat-necked bass. It may be skinny, but it’s also strong and stable thanks to the dual truss rod system. Each neck is designed with a natural curvature, or “neck relief”, to ensure the best possible string/fret contact. If the neck relief changes, you’ll get fret-buzz and even dead spots in extreme cases. The truss rod adds stiffness from inside, maintaining the proper curvature. Neck relief is partially dependent on string tension, so changing to heavier- or lighter-gauge strings can cause problems, along with temperature and humidity fluctuations. In these situations, the dual truss rod system can be tightened or loosened to compensate for the new conditions, letting every note ring out as it should.

You can find more info about the Rickenbacker 4003 Bass Guitar at:

http://RickenBacker.YouGet.info

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BREAKING NEWS: THE “GREEN HOUSE”® MODEL RESHAPES THE TRADITIONAL NURSING HOME TO BECKON BOOMERS

The U.S. Census Bureau reports that there are 306 million Americans, 78.2 million of whom—more than one-quarter—are Baby Boomers.  The oldest Boomers began turning 60 on New Year’s Day, 2006, slightly more than 40 months ago.  The generation that sincerely believed that it would never grow old is doing precisely that.  
This generation, “the pig moving through the python”–a disparaging reference to its size–is both the largest in American history and the first to have significant responsibilities for its aging, frequently infirm, parents’ needs—housing, healthcare, insurance, end-of-life planning, and a lot more.  
As we Boomers school ourselves about caregiving options for our parents, most of us ought to be thinking about our own advancing age and figuring out how we’re going to pay for our care.  We may consider nursing homes, assisted living facilities, or an alternative that will enable us to continue to live at home and receive the care we’ll need, such as <a title=In home healthcare from Great Places! rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackPageview', '/outgoing/article_exit_link']);” href=http://www.greatplacesinc.com/features/InHomeHealthCare.aspx>InHomeHealthCare</a>or  <a title=Adult day care from Great Places! rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackPageview', '/outgoing/article_exit_link']);” href=http://www.greatplacesinc.com/features/AdultDayCare.aspx>AdultDayCare</a>.  But it’s a demographic inevitability that as life expectancies continues to extend, we’re going to need help with basic daily functions—dressing, bathing, cooking, to name a few—perhaps for decades.
How will Boomers select OUR senior housing?  Proponents of “generational marketing” believe that generational values drive product marketing, and that each generation has unique values that are determined by their life experiences, lifestyles and social values.  Baby Boomers are routinely characterized as the “me generation,” the most egocentric in history.  This is the generation, after all, that grew up believing that the economic prosperity that existed after World War II would continue indefinitely.  “Shop ‘till you drop,” and “He who dies with the most toys wins!” are slogans that are claimed to reflect Boomers’ values and buying habits.  

On the other hand, Baby Boomers are also the “Woodstock Generation,” an age group that raged against their parents’ attitudes and mores, embracing the “hippie” lifestyle of “sex, drugs, and rock ‘n roll.”  Many of them rejected the traditional family formation and structure, opting instead for informal, even communal, living arrangements, often seeking self-sufficiency by “living off the land.”

It is this latter modality that has gotten increasing traction as Boomers age.  After decades of indulging every shameless, greedy impulse, our generation seems to want to age gracefully and adopt healthy lifestyles.  Health, wellness and sustainability have become compatible and complementary to us.  

As a result, it may be no surprise that the “greenest” Americans are the oldest Americans.  As reported by WSL Strategic Retail (http://www.wslstrategicretail.com) a research firm that provides marketing information to retailers and manufacturers, fully 85 percent of those over 55 try to conserve energy or use natural products, for example, compared to only 65 percent of Americans under age 35.

The emerging model of elder living for Boomers.  In 2002, Dr. William Thomas began to develop an alternative to traditional nursing home care that he called the “Eden Alternative.”  Here’s how he describes his motivation for changing the culture of nursing facilities:

“I went to the nursing home and sat.  Yes, I just sat and watched.  . . .  I was just observing.  I sat in the lobby.  I sat in the dining room.  I sat in the solarium.  What I saw was something I had been too busy to see before.  What I saw were the elders suffering – not from the physical ailments that brought them to the nursing home, but from plagues of the human spirit.  I saw patients suffering and dying from loneliness, helplessness, and boredom.
“I knew that I had to do something.   This brought me to the story of Eden.  Every child in America knows this story of world-making.  Yes, I thought, ‘Human beings were not meant to live in a cold, sterile environment.  They were meant to live in a garden.  That is a true human habitat. We must create a place for our elders that is much more like a garden – the Garden of Eden!”
Dr. Thomas developed the Green House® model, a small, “intentional” community that is a radical departure from the traditional nursing home or assisted living facility.  This model changes the size of the facility, its interior design and staffing patterns, and, most important, the methodology for delivering services.  The Green House website (http://www.thegreenhouseproject.org) describes this approach as “a place where elders can receive assistance and support with activities of daily living and clinical care, without the assistance and care becoming the focus of their existence.”
The Green House serves six to ten elders, blending architecturally with neighboring homes.   Each resident has a private room or unit with a private bathroom.  The rooms are bathed with sunlight and are organized around a hearth, an open kitchen and dining area. They’re intended to look and feel like a home, with few medical signposts.  The floorplans, décor and furnishings provide a sense of warmth, while the use of smart technology (e.g., computers, wireless pagers, electronic ceiling lifts, and adaptive devices) demonstrates sustainable, “green” practices.

Equally important, residents are not subject to the limitations of the typical institutional schedule.  They sleep, eat, and participate in activities according to their own schedules.  Meals are prepared in the open kitchen and served at a large dining table where staff, elders and visitors enjoy nutritious food and good conversation with people who care about each other.

The History of Lionel Model Trains

Jul
19

The History of Lionel Model Trains

Innovative marketing strategies have always been the underlying reason for the success of any company, and the history of Lionel Model Trains is no exception. Using the power of animated display, the first Lionel train was designed to attract window shopping New Yorkers.

The story first begins, however, when Joshua Lionel Cowen, in 1901 placed a small motor under a model of a railcar, run by a battery on thirty inches of track, and this little experiment resulted in the creation of the first Lionel model train. Since then more than millions of train sets have been sold, and an even more impressive fact is that Lionel manufactures and sells hundreds of miles of track each year!

It is a well known fact that the name Lionel has been as closely associated to Christmas as Santa Clause himself. These magnificent trains have been chugging around Christmas trees and triggering the imaginations of children since the early 1900′s, and continue to do so today.

The initial success of Lionel trains had as much to do with brilliant advertising campaigns, as it did with the companies determined commitment to promoting the highest level of quality and attention to detail that placed it’s product in a position above all others.

Although the other model train manufacturers got on the band wagon, and began producing three-rail track, 2 1/8″ gauge tracks, this track size was actually the innovative idea of Joshua Lionel Cowen. Through this original idea, his new track was known as “standard gauge”, and was the start of Lionel’s domination of the toy train industry.

During the 1920′s, this time period was known as the “Golden Age Of Toy Trains”, and Lionel was the ruler of the model train world, producing some of the most beautiful trains that were available. It was during this period that quality rose to a higher level and Lionel became well known for it’s rolling stock and locomotives precise detail.

Lionel took an entirely different path during World War Two and unselfishly discontinued it’s toy production, and focused all of it’s efforts on the production of items for national defense.

In the upcoming years Lionel experienced some downturns that were ultimately overcome, and today enjoys the unrivaled position of being among the top manufacturers of model trains.

An interesting and probably not well known fact is that Lionel sold the company to a group of investors in 1995 called Wellsprings L.L.C. of New York. One of those investors is the legendary rock star Neil Young, who has also been a passionate model railroader for many years. Along with his other contributions to Lionel, Young has been involved for a number of years in the creation of controls that make it easier for handicapped people to use model trains.

Given the timeless and valued history of Lionel model trains, it should be an easy choice to include this manufacturers trains as part your collection.

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